512 EM 385-1-1 Chapters 16-22

Sections

18-8. General Requirements.

Transportation of Personnel

Transport the number of passengers in vehicles only as many as there are seats.
Equip trucks for personnel transport with anchored seating, guardrails, rear end gates, and access steps or ladders.
Ensure all tools and equipment are secured during transport, and confirm all passengers are safely seated and enclosed before moving the vehicle.

Motor Vehicles for Public Roadway Use

Equip motor vehicles with essential safety and operational features including a speedometer, fuel gauge, mirrors, and safety glass.
Limit motor vehicle operators to a maximum of 10-hours of continuous operation in 24-hours and ensure rest periods between shifts.
Equip larger vehicles with emergency equipment such as red flags, reflective markers, wheel chocks, and fire extinguishers.

Trailers

Ensure towing devices are structurally adequate and properly mounted.
Employ a locking device or double safety system on all towing mechanisms.
Use safety chains or cables and breakaway devices on trailers with power brakes to prevent separation from the towing vehicle.

Machinery and Mechanized Equipment

Do not modify machinery without the manufacturer's approval and ensure it meets safety standards.
Operate machinery according to the manufacturer’s instructions without exceeding safe operating speeds or loads.
Equip machinery with operational features like fuel gauges, mirrors, and safety glass, and ensure proper maintenance.

Dump Trucks

Equip dump trucks with a holding device to prevent accidental lowering during maintenance or inspection.
Secure hoist levers to prevent accidental operation and ensure dump box position is visible to the operator.
Design trip handles to keep the operator clear of interference.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

18-7. Motor vehicle operators may continuously operate vehicles no more than _____.

24-hours in a 10-day period

8-hours in a 16-hour period

6-hours in a 12-hour period

10-hours in a 24-hour period

You forgot to answer the question!

EM 385-1-1 Paragraph 18-8 (d.–h.).

18-8. General Requirements. (d.–h.).

d.  Transportation of Personnel.  (18-8.d)

(1)  Do not exceed the number of passengers in passenger-type vehicles than the number that can be seated.

(2)  Trucks used to transport personnel must be equipped with a securely
    anchored seating arrangement, a rear end gate, and guardrail.  Provide steps or ladders for mounting and dismounting.

(3)  Guard, stow, and secure all tools and equipment when transported with personnel.

(4)  Do not ride with arms or legs outside of a vehicle body, in a standing position on the body, on running boards, or seated on side fenders, cabs, cab shields, bed of the truck, or on the load.

(5)  Protect passengers from inclement weather elements.  Enclose all vehicles transporting personnel during cold or inclement weather.

(6)  Do not transport explosives, flammable materials (excepting normal fuel supply), or toxic substances within or on vehicles carrying personnel.

(7)  Do not move vehicles transporting personnel until the driver has confirmed all persons are seated, and the guardrails and rear end gates are in place or doors are closed.

e.  Motor Vehicles (for Public Roadway Use).  (18-8.e)

(1)  All motor vehicles for use on public roadways must be equipped with the following:

(a)  An operable speedometer.

(b)  An operable fuel gauge.

(d)  An adequate rearview mirror or mirrors.

(e)  A power-operated starting device.

(f)  A windshield equipped with an adequate windshield wiper.

(g)  An operable defrosting and defogging device.

(h)  Non-slip surfaces on steps.

(i)  Cabs, cab shields, and other protection to protect the driver from the elements and falling or shifting materials.

Note.  Motorcycles. Items (f) through (i) do not apply to motorcycles.

(2)  Motor Vehicle Operators.  Operators of motor vehicles, while on duty, must not operate vehicles for a continuous period of more than ten 10-hours in any 24-hour period; moreover, no employee, while on duty, may operate a motor vehicle after being in a duty status for more than 12-hours during any 24-hour period.  A minimum of 8 consecutive hours of rest between shifts in a 24-hour period is required.

(3)  Shut down all motor vehicles prior to and during fueling operations.

(4)  Operators and passengers of motorcycles must always wear gloves, a DOT- approved motorcycle helmet with full face shield, visor or goggles, sturdy footwear, long sleeved shirt or jacket, long trousers, full fingered gloves, and high-visibility garments (bright color for day and retroreflective for night).

(5)  Glass in windshields, windows, and doors must be safety glass.  Replace any cracked or broken glass.

(6)  Equip all buses, trucks, and combinations of vehicles with a carrying capacity of 1.5 tons (1,360.8 kg) or over that are operated on public highways with emergency equipment required by state laws, but not less than the following:

(a)  One red flag not less than 144 in2 (929 cm2) and three reflective markers available for immediate use in case of emergency stops.

(b)  Two-wheel chocks for each vehicle or each unit of a combination of vehicles.

(7)  Equip all rubber-tired motor vehicles with fenders.  Tires must not extend beyond fenders.  Mud flaps may be used in lieu of fenders whenever motor vehicle equipment is not designed for fenders.

f.  Trailers.  (18-8.f)

(1)  All towing devices used on any combinations of vehicles must be structurally adequate for the weight drawn and properly mounted.

(2)  Provide a locking device or double safety system on every fifth-wheel mechanism and tow bar arrangement to prevent accidental separation.

(3)  Couple trailers to the towing vehicle with safety chains or cables.  The chains or cables must prevent the separation of the vehicles in case of tow bar failure.

(4)  Provide a breakaway device for trailers equipped with power brakes.  The breakaway device must effectively lock the brakes in the event the trailer separates from the towing vehicle.

g.  Machinery and Mechanized Equipment.  (18-8.g)

(1)  Do not make modifications or additions that affect the capacity or safe operation of machinery or equipment without the manufacturer's written approval.

(a)  If such modifications or changes are made, the capacity, operation, and maintenance instruction plates, tags, or decals must be changed accordingly.

(b)  In no case may the original safety factor of the equipment be reduced.

(2)  Do not operate machinery or equipment in a manner that will endanger
persons or property.

(a)  Do not exceed the safe operating speeds or loads.

(b)  Operate machinery and equipment according to the manufacturer’s instructions and recommendations.

(c)  Headphones may only be worn for communication directly related to operating the machine or mechanized equipment.  Do not use headphones for entertainment purposes (for example, radio, CD, music, books) while operating equipment.

(d)  Do not use cell phones or any other electronic device that may cause distractions while operating equipment.

(3)  If the manufacturer’s instructions or recommendations are more stringent than the requirements of this manual, follow the more stringent requirements.

(4)  All machinery and mechanized equipment must be equipped with the following:

(a)  An operable fuel gauge.

(b)  An operable audible warning device (for example, horn).

(d)  Non-slip surfaces on steps.

(e)  A power-operated starting device.

(f)  A seat or equal protection for each person required to ride on equipment (unless standing is permitted by the equipment manufacturer).

(g)  Powered wipers for all equipment with windshields.  Equip vehicles that operate under conditions that cause fogging or frosting of windshields with operable defogging or defrosting devices.

(h)  Glass in windshields, windows, and doors must be safety glass.  Replace cracked or broken glass.

(5)  Mobile equipment must have a service brake system and a parking brake system capable of stopping and holding the equipment while fully loaded on the grade of operation.

(6)  Equipment Operators.  Operators of machinery and mechanized equipment, will not be permitted to exceed 12-hours of duty time in any 24-hour period, including time worked at another occupation.  A minimum of 8 consecutive hours of rest between shifts in a 24-hour period is required.

(7)  Shut down mechanized equipment before and during fueling operations. Closed systems, with an automatic shut-off that will prevent spillage if connections are broken, may be used to fuel diesel powered equipment left running.

(8)  Fully lower or block bulldozer and scraper blades, end-loader buckets, dump bodies, and similar equipment when being repaired or when not in use.  All controls
    must be in a neutral position with the engines stopped and brakes set unless work being performed on the machine requires otherwise.

(9)  Place stationary machinery and equipment on a firm foundation and secure it before operating.

(10) Adequately illuminate all mobile equipment and the areas in which they are operated while work is in progress (see chapter 7).

(11) Do not operate equipment powered by an internal combustion engine in or near an enclosed area unless adequate ventilation is provided to ensure the equipment does not generate a hazardous atmosphere.

(12)  Display yellow flashing lights or four-way flashers visible from all directions
on machinery or mechanized equipment parked on or moving slower than normal traffic on haul roads.

(13) Provide all machinery or equipment operating on rails, tracks, or trolleys (except railroad equipment) with substantial track scrapers or track clearers (effective in both directions) on each wheel or set of wheels.

(14) Do not use steering or spinner knobs unless originally designed or approved in writing by the manufacturer.

(15) Provide safeguards (for example, bumpers, railings, tracks,) to prevent machinery and equipment operating on a floating plant from going into the water (see chapter 19).

(16) Do not operate the controls of loaders, excavators, or similar equipment with folding booms or lift arms from a ground position unless so designed.

(17) Do not work in, pass under, or ride in the buckets or booms of loaders in operation.

(18) Operate tire service vehicles so that the operator will be clear of tires and rims when hoisting operations are being performed.  Secure tires large enough to require hoisting equipment from movement by continued support of the hoisting equipment unless bolted to the vehicle hub or otherwise restrained.

(19)  Equip each bulldozer, scraper, dragline, crane, motor grader, front-end loader, mechanical shovel, backhoe, and other similar equipment with at least one dry chemical or CO2 fire extinguisher with a minimum rating of 10-B:C (see chapter 9).

(20) Secure fill hatches on water haul vehicles or reduce their opening to a maximum of 8 inches (20.3 cm).

(21)  Maintenance and Repairs.

(a)  Shut down and take positive means to prevent the operation of all machinery or equipment while repairs or manual lubrications are performed.  Equipment designed to be serviced while running are exempt from this requirement.

(b)  Make all repairs on machinery or equipment at a location that will protect repair personnel from traffic.

(c)  Substantially block or crib heavy machinery, equipment, or parts thereof that are suspended or held apart by slings, hoist, or jacks before personnel work underneath or between them.

(22)  Parking.

(a)  Set the parking brake whenever equipment is parked.

(b)  When equipment is parked on an incline, have the wheels chocked or track mechanisms blocked and the parking brake set.

(c)  When equipment is left unattended at night adjacent to a highway in normal use or adjacent to construction areas where work is in progress, provide lights or reflectors or barricades equipped with lights or reflectors to identify the location of the equipment.

(23)  Towing.

(a)  All towing devices used on any combination of equipment must be structurally adequate for the weight drawn and securely mounted.

(b)  Do not get between a towing vehicle and the piece of towed equipment until both have been completely stopped, the brakes are set, and wheels chocked on both the vehicle and equipment.

h.  Dump Trucks.  (18-8.h)

(1)  Equip all dump trucks with a physical holding device to prevent accidental lowering of the body while maintenance or inspection work is being done.

(2)  Secure all hoist levers to prevent accidental starting or tripping of the mechanism.

(3)  Equip all off-highway end-dump trucks with a means to determine whether the dump box is lowered. The means must be plainly visible from the operator's position while looking ahead.

(4)  Arrange trip handles for dump truck tailgates to keep the operator clear of interference.

512 EM385-1-1 Chapters 16-22